Welcome to #whatscooking and to our April schedule of live interactive cooking lessons brought to you from our homes to yours! We’re all revved up for April! The Casa Mia team (Gina, Eleonora and Carolyn) will offer individual one-plate simple interactive lessons as a way to bring the universal us together during this time of social distancing. Lessons are geared toward home cooks like us and are open to all.
Lesson Details
- There will be a maximum 10 participants per lesson to allow hands-on teaching and interaction during the live online class. We want to have time to answer all of your questions and spend time together cooking.
- Sign-ups are now open. Send us an email at ciao@casamiatours.com to reserve your space. Within 48 hours of submitting your request, you will receive a confirmation and invitation to the lesson. If you would like to request a lesson at an alternative time please email us and we will try our best to accommodate.
- You will receive a shopping list for the lesson and a list of kitchen tools that we’ll use during the lesson with the confirmation email. Please don’t hesitate to ask us for substitutions if you can’t find an ingredient or don’t have a specific kitchen tool. We make substitutions in our kitchens every day!
- All starting times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
- Classes last between 1-1.5 hours and start promptly. Lessons will be recorded and available for viewing within 48 hours.
April Lessons
- Thursday, April 9 – Arancini or Supplì?
- Arancini or Supplì? Welcome to the world of Italian Street Food! Cheese filled fried rice balls are on the menu today. Arancini, or Supplì, depending upon where you are in Italy, are hearty portable snacks that come in a variety of forms. Today you will learn a basic recipe with the option to add on!
- Start time: 5:00 pm EST
- Taught by Carolyn
- Thursday, April 16 – Carciofi 3 Ways
- Ready to deep-dive in the magical realm of Italy’s seasonal sides? Since this is the end of artichoke season, why not use up the last carciofi for sassy side dishes? Today you’ll learn to make artichokes in three ways, plus pick up tips and tricks to make the best of your purple pretties. Vegetarian-friendly.
- Start time: 4:00 pm EST
- Taught by Eleonora
- Wednesday, April 22 – Not all Biscotti are Created Equal
- While Italians use the word biscotti to refer to a range of cookies, Americans use it in reference to the crisp, twice-baked Italian cookie. During this lesson, we’ll start with a base dough for simple biscotti that can be used to make various types of biscotti. Gina has adapted it from her grandmother’s original recipe and will share it with students, along with tips on variations and biscotti styles.
- Time: 3:00 pm EST
- Taught by Gina
Sneak peek at May lessons & beyond
- Roman Pasta Classics – carbonara; cacio e pepe; amatriciana & gricia
- Meatballs – drenched in tomato sauce, fried or made with a mix of meats, or vegetables, polpette will be the focus of the lesson.
- Lasagna – Classic; Neapolitan; basil pesto; vegetarian
- Wine & Cheese – introduction to how to taste wine paired with cheese. We’ll taste 3 wines & 3 cheeses during our interactive wine tasting.
Future lessons will include
- Pasta from scratch – gnocchi, pappardelle, cavatelli… the list goes on
- Rice in its many forms – risotto, rice-stuffed tomatoes, riso al salto, budino di riso, and more
- Soups – pappa al pomodoro, ribollita, zuppa di farro, pasta e ceci, pasta e fagioli, pancotto, bagna cauda, zuppa pavese, and more
- Basic sauces – pesto, puttanesca, bolognese and more
- Main courses – roasts and stews; chicken cacciatore; involtini & scaloppine; not to mention the bounty of fish and seafood recipes Italy is known for!
- Vegetarian recipes – vignarola, stewed lentils, torta rustica (savory pies), and more
- Complete meals – eggplant parmigiana; lasagna; frico; frittata; polenta; pizza & focaccia, and more
- Desserts – tiramisu, crostata, panna cotta, gelato & granita, and more
Email us for a full list of lessons/dishes that are available.
If there’s a dish that you’d like to cook but do not see listed here, please let us know and we’ll add it to our menus.
We’re happy to offer semi-private and private lessons upon request.
Contributions for lessons are welcome. 10% of all contributions will go to Partners in Health Coronavirus response efforts. To make a contribution you may use our PayPal.Me link, use CHASE QuickPay or send a digital payment with Zelle which is available through Citibank, BofA and Wells Fargo.
